Organize Your Kitchen #2 Utensils

We’re on a Freedom Journey (Utensils) that will declutter and organize your kitchen in 21 days, using about 10 minutes per day. Three weeks will come and go. If you are able to join us on this Freedom Journey, after 21 days, you will be celebrating in your newly organized kitchen. You can do this.

(Today is a bit of a “cheat post”. It is almost identical to yesterday’s Cutlery post. Hey, it’s a great plan. :-))

Remember, first we declutter. Then we organize.

Declutter

Gather all the clean utensils in your kitchen (focus on serving pieces, specialty knives, cooking utensils, etc.). Look in all the drawers, cabinets, countertops, the clean dishwasher, and the drying rack.

Sort “like items with like items” – make little piles on the countertop or table – put all the slotted spoons together, all the spatulas together, etc. (If you have more than one style of utensils, sort each separately – put all the stainless steel slotted spoons together, all the wooden spoons together, etc.)

Purge through your piles. Designate new areas on the countertop or table as Donate, Sell, Trash, and Recycle piles. You can mark the designated areas with post-it notes or a slip of paper with each title on it. Scan the “like with like” piles. Remove anything you think is unusable, and place it in either the Trash or Recycle piles. Remove any items you no longer use, love or want, and place them in either the Donate or Sell piles. (When you decide whether to Donate or Sell an item, keep in mind the time, effort, and energy it will take to sell it (auction, garage sale, one-on-one, etc.). Make sure your return on investment is worth it. Consider unchaining yourself from that item by putting it straight into the Donate pile. Someone else really needs it.)

Make a Purge Storage Area. This could be individual paper bags, plastic bags (different than your regular trash bags), boxes, containers, or a section in your laundry room or garage. Label your containers to avoid confusion. Place your Donate, Sell, Trash and Recycle piles into the appropriate container. Place that container in its designated space until you get ready to dispose of these items.

Organize

Take a look at the remaining utensils – remember, you use, love or want them.

Where do you want their home in your home to be? Near Stove? Near Oven? Near Dishwasher? Drawer? Cabinet? Countertop? Shelving?

Do you have a divided container already in which you want to continue to house them? Will they fit in this container? If not, you may have to go back to the purging step (Donate or Sell).

Would you like to buy a divided container in which to house them? Plastic? Stainless? Wood? Color? Style? Size? (Note: you may find it helpful to wait to purchase any organizing products until after you’ve completed decluttering and organizing. For now, just make notes about what you might like and the size it needs to be.)

Locate your selection in which to house them.

Place your items into your selection. Place the selection into its home.

Enjoy being able to find your utensils whenever you need them.

Remember to return your utensils here after each use.

Congratulations! You did it! We’ll continue your Freedom Journey tomorrow. There are only 19 days left to your newly organized kitchen.

“He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisonersand recovery of sight for the blind,to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (New International Version)

Hello, my name is Tina Bonifacio, and I am a Professional Organizer working with residential and commercial clients in the greater Savannah, Georgia area. For more information, visit https://organizedbytina.com. Thanks for stopping by. You are welcome back anytime.